We thought Claymore Game Studios’ Commando: Origins looked quite solid when we attended a digital preview even last summer, but also have been wondering for a while whether it was gonna make its ‘late 2024’ release window promised a few months ago. Now, we know for sure it’s slipping into early 2025, but it seems that feedback is being used to make rather deep changes.
The latest dev log (via publisher Kalypso Media’s site) details a long list of changes and tweaks that will be reshaping some chunks of the real-time tactics prequel as it nears its planned March 2025 release. After a number of closed beta tests and a public demo that can still be downloaded, Claymore has decided to make a number of adjustments which we’re detailing below (though we recommend checking out the full official post too).
Unsurprisingly, performance optimization is being looked at ahead of release, as usual with any major release. This time, however, it was crucial to get player feedback before the game neared ‘gold’ status. Another key area that’s getting changes after letting the players tinker with the game’s systems is enemy AI, which was reportedly erratic too often.
On the moment-to-moment gameplay and controls front, the default control scheme will be getting changes to be more intuitive based on player feedback, plus PC will get custom key bindings. An even bigger change is hitting the loot system, as some players felt that collecting items and having a backpack would add to the game’s flexible loop. The devs, however, decided to add loot that’s used directly via each commando’s skills instead of adding a more traditional inventory and backpack system that could make the game denser than it needs to be. Last but not least, non-lethal combat options are being added to the game as well.
Areas which are being looked at but won’t see major changes are voice-overs (the team already said a while back most audio in the demos was temporary), music, map design, and UI/UX. Claymore is considering all requests and feedback, but some plans are just too firmly in place, especially this close to release. Moreover, the betas and demos were just a taste of the whole thing.
Kalypso and Claymore have also confirmed the game remains on track to launch on PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, PS4/5, and day one on the Xbox/PC Game Pass service.
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